Lubricating device



`ume 15, 1937. N. v. SMITH LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1954 m y vw mw ,mM W w ou W l fm l f Q 9M H Patented June 15, i937 LUBRICATING DEVICE Neil V. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Smith-Johnson Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 20, 1934, Serial No. 753,865

14 Claims. (Cl. 2PM-47.4)

This invention relates to a lubricating device acter mentioned that embodies a minimum. numand relates more particularly to a lubricant gun ber of simple, Sturdy, ineXDenSiVe Darla or grease gun for forcing lubricant to machine Other Objects and features Of the invention parts to lubricate the same. A general object may be fully undeiStOOd frOm the' fOllOWiiig Cle- 0f the invention is to provide a practical, eomtailed description of a typical preferred form and pact, and entirely self-contained manually operapplication of the invention throughout which able lubricant pump or grease gun. description reference is made to the accompany- Another Aobject of the invention is to provide ing drawing, in WhiChI a portable manually operable grease `gun that Fig. l is a central longitudinal detailed seccarries its own supply of lubricant in a readiiOIlal View 0f the grease gun illustrating the 10 ily removable and replaceable lubricant earparts in the normal unactuated positions and tridge or container whereby the gun may be em- Fig. 2 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken ployed for the handling of lubricants of various aS indicated byline 2-2 011 Fiel 1- grades and characters. The lubricating device or grease gun of this Another object of the invention is to provide inventiOn includes, generally, a body lll having l5 a portable manually operable grease gun of the lubricant chamber or cylinder II, a removable Character mentioned whose mechanism is eapalubricant cartridge or lubricant container I2 on ble of effectively handling the Various grades of the body l0, means I3 OI feeding Charges 0f lilthe lighter or less tenacious -greases and 1ubricant from the container I2 to the cylinder brisant-s aswell as the fibrous greases which the ll, and means I4 fOr eJ'eCCiIlg 01' OTCiIlg 011e usual grease guns are incapable of handling. charges of grease from the cylinder II to the 0 Another object of the invention is to provide machine parts to be lubricated.

a symmetrical and readily manipulated portable The body I6 is a hollow or chambered strucgrease gun that is actuated to force a charge ture that is light in Weight and Capable 0f hOldof lubricant to a machine part by engaging the ing or storing a supply oi air under pressure. 2- discharge fitting of the gun against the lubricant In the particular form o the invention illusreceiving fitting on the machine part and then trated in the drawing, the body l0 iS SeCtiOIlal, applying an inward force or push to the gun Comprising an inner or main section l5 and a to force the charge of lubricant into the receivhead I. The main body section I5 is preferably h ing fitting. cylindrical and has a comparatively large longio o Another object of the invention is to provide tudinal chamber I'l. A rear end wall or partio a portable manually operable grease gun of the tion i8 closes the rear end of the chamber il. character mentioned having a large lubricant ca- The head i6 may be threaded to the forward end pacity and that may be easily and conveniently of the main section I5 at a hush threaded joint operated with one hand. i3. The head I6 may be substantially spherically 3- Another object of the invention is to provide rounded as illustrated in the drawing and may a portable manually operated grease gun of the have a central forwardly plOjeClJing bOSS 2li 0H character mentioned that embodies a novel its forward end. The interior of the head I6 is means for storing a supply of air under pressure relieved or recessed and its internal space or dp for feeding lubricant to the high pressure lubri- Opening CODSiiU-'GS a OTWaYCl lOOIifiOIl 0 ille 40 cant cylinder. chamber I'l.

Another object of the invention is to provide A handle 2I is provided on the body le tofacilia portable manually operated grease gun in tate the easy manipulation and actuation of the which the body, the removable lubricant condevice. The handle 2| projects laterally or downtainer, the lubricant cylinder, and the ejector wardly from the lower side of the main body secor plunger have a common longitudinal axis ren- GOII l5. The lubIiCalil COltainel' l2 DIOJ'eCtS dering the device sightly, compact, well balanced, rearwardly from the body I0 and the handle 2l and easy to handle and operate. preferably projects downwardly adjacent the rear Another object of the invention is to provide end of the body section I5 so that it is located a manually operated grease gun in which a minisubstantially midway between the opposite ends 50 mum amount of lubricant must be cleared or disof the assembly to be at or adjacent the center charged from the mechanism when it is desired of gravity of the gun. The handle 2i may be to handle a diiTerent lgrade or class of lubricant. secured to the body section I5 by screws 22 and A further object of the invention is to prothe lower wall of the section I5 may be thickened 5 vide a manually operated grease gun of the charor hanged to receive the handle. In practice, the 55 lower surface of the body section i5. The chamy ber in the handle 2| is adapted iafcontam or hold air under pressure andisconnected with the chamber' i? by a portl25- in the wall 'of the section I5 so that the chamber 23 and the chamA ber I? constitute a reservoir R for storing or hold ing air under pressure. It will benctedthat the connected or communicating chambers I? and 23 in addition to constituting a large air holding reservoir R materially lighten the device so that it is easy to manipulate. Means is provided for passing or delivering air under pressure tothe reservoir R. This means comprises a valve 25 extending through an opening 2'! in the lower end oi the handle fil. The 4valve 23 may be similar to or identical with the class of valves'em'plo-yed on the inner tubes of pneumatic vehicle tires and may have a threaded portion 28 projecting from the handle 2| to be Vreceive by the fitting of the air hoses commonly found in service stations, garages, etc. The valve 25 is inthe nature of a check valve which is adapted to admit air under pressure into the reservoir R and that operates to prevent the reverse or outflow of air. The air under pressure stored in the reservoir R actuates the feed meansI3.

The cylinder ii of the body I E is provided to receive charges oi lubricant from thel container I2 'and constitutes thehigh pressure lubricant cylinder or the gun. In the preferred form of the invention the cylinder II is located to receive the lubricant directly from the container i2. kIn the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing the chamber or cylinder ii is in the nature of a longitudinal opening in a part or extension 3i! of the body Ic projecting rearwardly'from the partition i8. The extension SE may be integral with the wall or partition i8 and is preferably cylindrical and uniform indiameter.

The lubricant cartridge or container I2 is removably secured to the body IG to project rearwardly or longitudinally from its rear end.V The container I2 is a hollow memberhaving a chamber or opening 3| for carrying a supply of lubricant. The lubricant container I may be cylindrical in its general conguration and may have a rounded rear end provided with ribs or feet 32 for supporting it in a vertical position when detached from the body i6. The forward o-pen end of the container I2 is removably secured to the body I in a manner so that the container is coaxial with the body. In accordance with the broader principles of the invention the means for connecting the container I2 with the body IB may be varied considerably in character. In the simple, preferred embodiment `illustrated in the drawing an annular member or flange' 33 projects from the rear end of the body section I and the forward end of the container i2 is threaded into the flange. The lubricant container I2 encloses the body extension 36 and is proportioned so that the rear end of the extension is adjacent its rear end Wall. It is believed that it will be apparent howA the container I2' may be provided with a container opening 3l.

plate-like body 35 having a tubular ilange or supply of lubricant and secured to the rear end of the body i8 to directly supply the lubricant to the cylinder II. A suitable or desired number of containers i 2 may be supplied with the gun for holding lubricants of various grades so that the gun may be quickly provided with supplies of various grades of lubricants.

The means I3 for feeding the lubricant from the container l2 to the cylinder II is adapted to be actuated by air under pressure from the reservoir R when the gun is handling heavy or medium heavy grades of lubricant and is adapted to-be actuated by atmospheric pressure when the gun is handling lighter lubricants. The feed Vmeans ISVcomprises a follower or piston 34 shiftable longitudinally on the extension 30 Within the The piston 34 includes a.

sleeve 35" slidable on the body extension 30. A cup leather or sealing element 3l is carried by the piston body 35 to slidably seal with the wall of the opening 3l and the external surface of the extension 38. Air pressure is supplied or delivered from the reservoir R to the forward end of the container opening 3l by a port 38 in the body section I5. The port 38 may extend through the partition I8 to put the forward end of the container opening 3i in communication with the air holding chamber 23 of the handle ZI. As long as pressure remains in the reservoir R it is exerted on the piston 34 to force charges of lubricant from the container I2 into the cylinder II. When the gun is to handle heavy or comparatively heavy lubricants air under suitable pressure may be passed into the reservoir R through the valve 26 to act rearwardly on the piston 34. The reservoir R has a. suflicient capacity to hold a supply of air under pressure to feed the entire or substantially the entire contents of the container I2 into the cylinder Il upon successive actuation of the gun.

When the lighter grades of lubricant are to be used in the gun, the valve 2S or the core of the Valve 26 may be removed to admit atmospheric pressure to the reservoir R and inner end of the container i2 to act on the piston 34. Under such conditions of operation the atmospheric pressure acting on the piston 34 is effective in feeding lubricant tc the cylinder I I. Means may be provided for by-passing the actuating pressure past the piston 34 upon the piston reaching a position adjacent the rear end or wall of the container I2. Grooves or slots 33 are provided in the rear end portion of the extension. When the piston 34 reaches a position where its sealing element 31 surrounds the portion of the extension having the slots 39, the actuating air pressure is free to pass through the slots 39 and into the rear portion of the container and the rearward travel of the piston ceases. Y

The means I4 is manually operable by force applied to the body I0, preferably through the medium of the handle I I, to eject or force charges of lubricant from the cylinder I I to the machine parts or unit to be lubricated. The ejecting means I4 includes an ejector or plunger 40 adapted to displace lubricant from the chamber I I and to conduct it to the lubricant receiving fitting of the part being lubricated. The plunger 40 is slidable or shiftable longitudinally in the cylinder II and is tubular having a longitudinal opening 4I extending through it from one end to the other. The opening 4I may be comparatively small with respect to the diameter of the plunger. The plunger 4U extends forwardly from the cylinder II through the chamber I1 and passes through a longitudinal opening 42 in the boss 2U to project from the forward end of the gun. A boss 43 projects forwardly from the partition I8 and carries packing 44 for sealing about the plunger 4.0. The packing 44 is compressed between a follower 45 and a spring pressed washer 46. A cup leather or sealing means 4l may be provided at the inner end of the opening 42 for sealing about the plunger 40.

A means or fitting is provided on the forward projecting end of the plunger 4I! kto cooperate with the lubricant receiving tting of the machine parts to be lubricated. In practice, any suitable type of fitting may be provided on the plunger 4B to adapt the device for forcing lubricant through lubricant receiving ttings of various types. In the particular case illustrated in the drawing the forward end portion of the plunger 40 is enlarged and a fitting 48 is screw-threaded to this enlarged portion. The fitting 48 has a socket 49 in its outer end adapted to receive the lubricant or grease gun fitting of the machine part being lubricated. A central rounded protuberance or projection 5i? is provided on the bottom of the socket 49. A central perforation or opening 5l extends through the projection 5U to pass lubricant outwardly from the plunger opening 4I to the lubricant receiving fitting.

Valve means is provided for governing the admission and discharge of lubricant to and from the cylinder II and the communicating opening 4I of the plunger. An inlet valve 52 is provided to control the admission of lubricant to 'the rear end of the cylinder II. The valve 52 may be in the nature of a ball valve adapted to seat rearwardly against a seat 53 removably threaded in the rear end of the extension 30. A spring 54 urges the valve 52 against its seat 53. The seat 53 may have a projecting flange 55 whereby it may be conveniently engaged for relmoval, etc. when the lubricant container I2 is (detached from the body IB. A valve 56 for controlling the discharge of lubricant from the gun is arranged in a socket or enlargement 51 in the enlarged forward end portion of the plunger. The valve 56 may be in the form of a ball valve for cooperating with a suitable seat at the mouth of the opening 4I. A spring 58 is arranged under compression between the valve 56 and the fitting 48 to urge the valve 5E into cooperation with its seat. The spring 53 is sufficiently strong vto normally hold the valve I5 closed against the action of the air pressure acting on the piston 34 and to prevent the lubricant from bleeding from the gun when the fitting 48 is disconnected from the lubricant receiving fitting.

To operate the device or gun to force a charge of lubricant into a lubricant receiving fitting on a machine part, the fitting 48 is engaged against the lubricant receiving fitting so that the opening 5I may discharge the lubricant into the receiving fitting. An inward force or push 1s then applied to the body IU by engaging and acting on the handle 2l or any other suitable part of the body II! or container I2. This inward push moves the body Il! and the associated parts relative to the plunger 4D which is held stationary through the engagement of the fitting 48 with the lubricant receiving fitting. As the body extension 3i! moves inwardly or forwardly relative to the plunger 4I) the charge of lubricant in the rear portion of the cylinder II is ejected or displaced forwardly through the opening 4I to unseat the valve 56 and pass Vthrough the opening 5I into the lubricant receiving fitting.

'Ihe invention includes means for returning the parts to their normal positions after the ejection or forcing of the charge of lubricant into the lubricant receiving fitting. This means may include an abutment or plate 60 attached to the plunger 40 within the chamber I'I. The plate 60 is spaced a considerable distance forwardly from the partition I8 when the parts are in their normal positions. One or more springs 6I are arranged` under compression between the plate 60 andthe forward face` of the partition I8. In the case illustrated in the drawing there are twospiral springs 6I arranged one within the other and held under compression between the plate 60 and the partition I 8. The springs 6I return .or aid the return of the body I0 to its normal position relative to the'plunger 40 following the ejection of a charge of lubricant.

It is believed that the operation of the lubricating device or grease gun of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. A container I2 holding a supply of the desired or required grade of lubricant may be easily attached to the body I0 by threading its end into the flange 33. Following the attachment of the container I2 to the body IB, air under pressure may be supplied to the reservoir R through the valve 25. The pressure on the air in the reservoir R is transmitted t0 the lubricant in the container I2r by the piston 34. To actuate the gun, the fitting 48 is arranged against the lubricant receiving fitting of the machine unit to be lubricated so that the opening 5I is positioned to discharge lubricant into the receiving fitting. The body I0 is then pushed or moved forwardly against the action of the springs 6I. During this movement the plunger 40 remains stationary due to the engagement of the fitting 48 with the 1ubricant receiving fitting. As the body moves forwardly relative to the plunger 40 the lubri cant in the rear portion of the cylinder II is displaced and is forced forwardly through the opening 4I past the valve 56 and into the lubricant receiving` fitting of the machiney unit. The valve 52, of course, remains closed during the ejection of the lubricant.

Following the ejection of the charge of lubricant from the gun the operator may leave the fitting 48 in engagement with the lubricant'receiving fitting and may relieve the inward force he has exerted on the body I0 so that the springs 6I automatically move the body outwardly or rearwardly relative to the plunger 4I). This same relative movement between the body I0 and plunger 40 occurs if the operator disengages the fitting 48 from the lubricant receiving fitting except that in this case the plunger 40 is moved by the springs 6I. During the return of the body IU and plunger 40 to their normal relative positions illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the air under pressure acting against the forward side of the piston 34 forces lubricant from the container I2 into the cylinder II. The device or gun is then conditioned for another actuation.

'I'he present invention provides a portable manually operated grease gun that is very compact and light in weight and that is capable of handling various classes of lubricants. The device involves only two valves governing the movement of the lubricant which valves are formed and positioned so that they may properly operate when the device is handling various types of lubricant.

The body I0, the cylinder II, and the container l2 in being coaxial provide avery compact and well balanced structure. The device may be easily operated with only one hand. The operator may grasp the handle 2| with one hand for the full handling and operating of the gun. Thegun is entirely self-contained as it holds its own supply of lubricant and its own supply of air under pressure for feeding lubricant to the highV pressure lubricant cylinder Il.

Having described only typicalforrns and applications of my invention I do not Wish' to be'1imited or restricted Vto the specic forms andapplications herein set forth, but wish to'reserve to myself any modifications or variationsy that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the followingclaims.' Y v Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A grease gun including', a body having a lubricant cylinder, there beingv a chamber in the bodyforming a reservoir for holding air under pressure, `a lubricant container attached to the body, means actuated byV air under'pressure from the reservoir for Vforcing a charge of lubricant from the container into the cylinder, and a plunger operable in the cylinder and projecting from the body for engaging the partito be-lubricated, the body and plunger being relatedf for relative longitudinal movement; f

2. A grease gun including,`a'b`ody having a lubricant cylinder, there being an opening in the body forming a reservoir for holding air'under pressure, a lubricant container on the body at the rear of the reservoir, means actuated by air under pressure'from the reservoir for forcing a charge of lubricant from the container'into the cylinder, and a tubular plunger shiftableV in the cylinder and projecting'from the body for engaging the part to be lubricated. Y

3. A lubricating device including; a body having a cylinder for receivinga charge of lubricant, a removable lubricant container on the rear end of the body, there being a chamber in the body in front of the container forming a reservoir for carrying fluid under pressure and a port inthe body establishing communication between the chamber and the container whereby vthe fluid under pressure feeds lubricant'from the container into the cylinder, and means for ejecting' lubricant from the cylinder to the part to be lubricated. 'l 'l 4. 'l In a portable 'manually operated "lubricant gun, lubricant feeding means, `ejecting meansrelatedl to the feeding means to receive lubricant therefrom, a body carrying the feeding means and the ejecting means, and a handle projecting laterally from the body, the bodydand handle having communicating, chambers forming a reservoirV for holdingairk underV pressure, said reservoir communicating withthesaid feeding means t actuatetl'iesarne.A v

5.v A lubricating device including, a body' having a handle, there being a chamber in the body forming a reservoir forairunder pressure, normally closed valve means on the handle for admitting air under pressure tothe chamber-means for removably securing a lubricant vcontainer to the body to be in communicationwith the` said reservoir, a cylinder on the body for holding a charge of lubricant and .related to the container to receive a charge of lubricant therefrom, means actuated by said air under pressure from the reservoir'for forcing a charge of lubricant from the container into the cylinder, and means for ejecting the charge of lubricant from the cylinder to the part' to be lubricated. f

6. A lubricating gun including, a body having a rearwardly extending cylinder for receiving a chargeof lubricant, a lubricant container attached to the body to enclose the cylinder, there being a chamber in the body carrying air under super-atmospheric pressure and communicating with the container whereby the air under pressure forces lubricant into the cylinder, and a tubular plunger extending forwardly from the body to cooperate with the part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to force the charge to said part upon relative movement between the body and plunger.

'7. A'lubricating gun including, a body having a rearwardly extending cylinder for receiving a charge ef lubricant, there being a chamber in the body for holding fluid under pressure, a lubricant container attached to the body to enclose the cylinder and supply lubricant thereto and having communication with the chamber wherebysaid fluid under pressure forces lubricant into the cylinder, the body chamber, cylinder and container being co-axial, and a tubular plunger ex- 'tending forwardly from the body to cooperate withthe part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to force vthe charge to said part upon relative movement'between the body and plunger.

8. A rlubricating gun including, a body having vres-irvvardly extending cylinder for receiving a charge of lubricant, there being a chamber in the body forming a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a lubricant container attached to the body to enclose the cylinder and supply lubricant thereto,

means actuated by iiuid under pressure from the reservoir for feeding lubricant from the container intoV the cylinder, and a tubularplunger extending forwardlyffrom the body to cooperate with the part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to force the charge to said part upon relative movement between the body and plunger.

9. A lubricant gun including, a body having a rearwardly extending cylinder for receivingl a charge oflubricant, a lubricant container attached to thebody to enclose the cylinder and supply lubricant thereto, fluid pressure means for feeding lubricant from the container into the cylinder, there being a chamber in the `body forming a reservoir for holding fluid pressure to ,l actuate said means, and a tubular plunger extending forwardly from the body to cooperate with the part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to force the charge to said part upon relative movement between the body and plunger.

10. A manual lubricating device for supplying lubricant under pressure to a fitting on a part to be lubricated including a body having a hollow chamber portion and having an extension protainer on the body, a laterally projecting handle onvthe body, the handle being hollow and in communication with the hollow chamber portion whereby the chamber and handle form a reservoir for air under pressure, the said reservoir having communication with the container, a piston shiftable on the extension in the container by the air under pressure to feed lubricant to the cylinder, anda tubular plunger projecting from fr vided with a cylinder, a removable lubricant conthe body to engage the fitting of the part to be wardly from the body, a lubricant cartridge removably secured to the body to project rearwardly therefrom, means for providing uid un- A der pressure in the reservoir, means actuated by said uid under pressure for feeding lubricant from the cartridge into the cylinder, a tubular plunger extending forwardly from the body to cooperate with the part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to force lubricant therefrom to the said part upon relative movement between the body and plunger and means for returning the body and plunger to their normal relative positions.

12. A manual grease gun including a body having a cylinder, a removable lubricant container projecting rearwardly from the body, fluid pressure means for feeding lubricant from the container to the cylinder, a plunger projecting from the body to cooperate with the part to be lubricated and entering the cylinder to eject lubricant to said part, and a laterally projecting handle adjacent the center of gravity of the assembly of the body and lubricant container Whereby the gun is readily operatable with one hand.

13. In a portable lubricating gun, a body, lubricant feeding means carried by the body, lubricant ejecting means receiving lubricant 'from the feeding means, a laterally projecting handle on the body, the body and handle having communicating chambers forming a reservoir for holding fluid under pressure, the chambers having cornmunication with the lubricant feeding means to actuate said feeding means, and a fitting for admitting fluid under pressure to the reservoir.

14. In a portable lubricating gun, a body, lubricant feeding means carried by the body, lubricant ejecting means receiving lubricant from the feeding means, a laterally projecting handle on the body, the handle having a reservoir for holding fluid under pressure to actuate said feeding means, and a normally closed valve fitting on the handle for admitting fluid under pressure to the reservoir.

NEIL V. SMITH. 

